Vaccinations for Children: A Must Read (cont.)

Why do children need so many shots?

There are 12 potentially serious diseases
that vaccines protect against: Measles, Mumps, Rubella (German Measles),
Diphtheria, Tetanus (lockjaw), Pertussis (Whooping Cough), Polio, Haemophilus
Influenzae type b (Hib Disease), Hepatitis B, Varicella (Chickenpox), Hepatitis
A, and Pneumococcal disease. At least one shot is needed for each of these
diseases, and for some of them several doses are required for the best
protection.

This adds up to a lot of shots, and several are usually given at the same
time. Some parents worry that it is not safe to give several shots at once, or
that they may not work as well, or that they will overload the child's immune
system. But studies have shown these fears to be unfounded. Vaccinations are
just as safe and just as effective when given together as they are when given
separately. The immune system is exposed to many foreign substances every day,
and will not be overburdened by vaccines.

Several "combination vaccines" already exist (such as MMR and DTaP)
in which multiple vaccines are given in a single shot, and this reduces the
number of shots needed. More combinations are being developed, so in the future,
even fewer shots will be needed for the same number of vaccines. Why are
vaccines given at such an early age? Vaccines are given at an early age because
the diseases they prevent can strike at an early age. Some diseases are far more
serious or common among infants or young children.

For example, up to 60% of severe disease caused by Haemophilus influenzae
type B occurs in children under 12 months of age. Infants less than 6 months of
age are at highest risk for serious complications of pertussis - 72% of children
under 6 months who get pertussis must be hospitalized, and 84% of all deaths
from pertussis are among children under 6 months. The ages at which vaccines are
recommended are not arbitrary. They are chosen to give children the earliest and
best protection against disease.

How serious are these diseases?

Any of them can kill a child. It's easy to
forget how serious they are because - thanks largely to vaccines - we don't see
them nearly as much as we used to. Measles used to kill thousands of people in
the United States every year. In the 1940's and 1950's tens of thousands of
children were crippled or killed by polio. As recently as the mid-1980's, 20,000
children a year suffered from meningitis and other serious complications as a
result of Hib disease.

These diseases aren't as common as they used to be, but they haven't changed.
They can still lead to pneumonia, choking, brain damage, heart problems, liver
cancer, and blindness in children who are not immune. They still kill children
every year, even in the United States.

What will happen if my child doesn't get these shots?

Basically, one of two
things could happen:

If your child goes through life without ever being exposed to any of these
diseases, nothing would happen.

If your child were exposed to any of these diseases, there is a good
chance he would get the disease. What happens then depends on the child and the
disease. The child could get mildly ill and have to stay inside for a few days.
He could get very sick and have to go to the hospital. At the very worst, he
could die. In addition, he could also spread the disease to other children and
adults who are not immune. If there were enough unprotected people in your
community, the result could be an epidemic, with many people getting sick and
some dying.

What are my child's chances of being exposed to these diseases?

It's hard to
say. Some of these diseases are very rare in the U.S. today, so the chances of
exposure are small. Others are still fairly common. Some are rare in the U.S.
but common elsewhere in the world. Don't assume your child is completely safe
from these diseases, even the rare ones. For instance, a child in the United
States has only a tiny chance of catching diphtheria. But several years ago a
boy in California did catch diphtheria and he died. He was the only child in his
class who hadn't been vaccinated.

Are shots safe?

Shots are very safe, but they are not perfect. Like any other
medicine they can occasionally cause reactions. Usually these are mild, like a
sore arm or a slight fever. Serious reactions are rare, but they can happen.
Your doctor or nurse can discuss the risks with you before your child gets her
shots. The important thing to remember is that getting the diseases is much more
dangerous than getting the shots.

Do shots always work?

Shots work most of the time, but not always. Most
childhood immunizations give immunity to 90%-99% of the children who get them.
But occasionally a child will not respond to certain vaccines. This is another
reason why it's important for all children to be vaccinated. A child who has not
responded to vaccination has to depend on the immunity of others around her for
protection. She could be infected by a child who hasn't been vaccinated, but not
by one who is immune.

What if my child didn't start her shots on time, or gets behind schedule?
Will they still work?

Yes. If your child has gotten behind in the schedule, it
is not too late. Most of these shots can be given at any age, and a child who
has gotten behind does not have to start over. The shots already given will
still count, and the child will still develop immunity. Just contact your doctor
or health department clinic.

Isn't getting all these shots expensive?

It doesn't have to be. Vaccines are
free if you take your child to a public health clinic (for instance, a state or
local clinic), although you might have to pay a small fee for the nurse to give
the shots. If you go to a private doctor, vaccines might be covered by your
health insurance. Or a program called "Vaccines for Children" (VFC)
might pay for your shots if you are enrolled in Medicaid, don't have health
insurance, or are an American Indian or Alaska Native.

For more about immunizations, please read the following MedicineNet.com articles: